Friday, September 20, 2013

Hiking with the Larches

Fall is an amazing time to explore Banff/Lake Louise and Kananaskis Country. Things are a little quieter and the hiking provides you with incredible views due to the needles on the larch trees changing to a brilliant yellow colour! One of the best hikes to see the larch views is the Larch Valley Hike starting at Moraine Lake in Lake Louise. Hike details are available here. Parking can be limited in the area so Parks Canada is offering free shuttle buses from the Lake Louise overflow parking lot (located just before the Lake Louise exit when traveling west on Highway One) to and from Moraine Lake from 9am-6pm on Sept21, 22, 28 and 29. The shuttles will run every 20 minutes and are a great opportunity to avoid traffic jams and get out exploring quicker!

This year there is a new hiking opportunity in Kananaskis Country at Fortress Mountain. White Mountain Adventures is offering half day guided walks on the mountain that includes transportation from the bottom of the access road. This area really has been difficult to access in the past and has been rarely visited in the last ten years; now some of the best alpine hiking in Kananaskis Country is within easy reach! The walk is around 2.5 hours (five to seven kilometers in length) and led by experienced naturalists/guides. The best part is that your scenic views will include many golden larches located throughout the forests! Reservations are required and full trip details are available through White Mountain Adventures

So take some time this fall to explore Banff, Lake Louise and Kananaskis Country! Banff Aspen Lodge is offering a special price discount for all Facebook Friends and Twitter Followers; like us on Facebook or follow on Twitter and receive savings up to 45%! Our 'Larch Season Savings' are available here.